Post by Angel on Mar 15, 2009 23:41:00 GMT -6
So I finally defended a title and won... Thanks to my trusty partner Philip Burns. God, it only took me... what? A year and a half. Go ahead, insert joke here.
Done? Good. Thing is, Joe, you gave me what I asked for, your very best, and this time it just wasn't enough. Don't worry, be happy, I let you walk away from that match.
Now the next time you go throwing around bull**** about me and my partner, remember the courtesy I did you and your future children by allowing you to continue breathing.
( Hartford, CT, the XL Center, 11:23 PM. Collision has wrapped up, the clock now ticks down to Sovereign, titles are on the line, lives will be changed, contenders will be named, all of those things weigh heavy on the mind of our dark hero, Angel. Showered and changed, we find Angel walking down one of the many hall ways in the XL Center, his tag team title draped over his leather clad shoulder, his duffel bag in his right hand and a coffee in his left. )
Coliseum match... I remember the first one, Dave Holland won, he came so close to defeating Lance Ryan that he actually managed to make a name for himself by losing...
No one really cares about the other five participants, they were just there, along for the ride, the story was all about Dave Holland, and his chance at the top.
So who's the story about this year? Who's everyone focusing on?
Adam Knite... The leader of the Revolution, the one major threat to the safety and future prosperity of this company, if your anyone not in a Revolution t-shirt.
( Angel starts to turn to his left, revealing his "AOTR" shirt beneath his leather coat. A few quick steps later and Angel stands outside of a door marked "Kelly Fox." He hesitates before placing his bag on the ground. )
All I keep hearing about is Adam Knite, and his Revolution, and how we work for him for his goals and his dreams and how he has twisted and corrupted us into something we're not...
All I keep hearing about is how I'm wrong for wanting to save nCw... How I'm the bad guy... All I see are former friends, fans, and family pointing their fingers and booing me for supporting Adam...
I can see the dream, it feels so close to being a reality, why does no one believe? Why will no one trust us and have faith in our vision? Why must I be painted as the bad guy?
Why does Shelly look at me like she doesn't trust me any more?
( Angel doesn't get a chance to open the door because Kelly Fox opened it for him. She gestures him into the office, where her desk is all set up with a computer and a small pile of paper work. Angel takes a seat on the near by couch, Kelly sits next to him, looking at him for a moment before she begins. )
Kelly Fox: Congratulations Angel, you have no idea how happy you made me when you pinned that loser tonight.
Angel: Yeah well... *blushes* just doing my job.
( Kelly lets out a forced laugh. )
Kelly Fox: I didn't ask you here to build your ego Angel, I asked you here to discuss Sovereign.
( Angel tries to muster up a look of surprise. )
Angel: I think I know where your going with this Kell.
Kelly Fox: Do you now?
Angel: You wanna make sure my heart is in this battle, because this could very well be the last stand of the Resistance. I got it, the Revolution has to win no matter the cost. I'm not exactly fans of our opponents, so I have no problem ending a few careers and shattering a few dreams.
( Kelly shakes her head and chuckles. She raises her right hand and strokes the side of Angel's face, he doesn't appear to like it very much. )
Kelly Fox: Oh, you are too cute sometimes. But you couldn't be more wrong Angel.
Angel: *Surprised* Really?
Kelly Fox: Sovereign may just be the end of this war, you know, the one we won two or three times now... But the Coliseum, thats the important part. You see the Revolution was Adam and Lance's dream. Adam has kept it alive, he's kept it breathing, he's poured his whole being into this Revolution.
( Angel cocks an eyebrow, internally questioning Ms. Fox but not interrupting her. )
Kelly Fox: Adam is the hero of this war Angel, his Revolution will have saved this promotion, a promotion that would have died without him and his dream. What better way to honor your hero than to give him the grandest prize in the history of wrestling?
( Now Angel starts to laugh and Kelly doesn't look at all amused.
Angel: Are you asking me to make sure Adam walks out of Sovereign the winner?
Kelly Fox: I'm asking you to honor the hero of nCw with what he has more than earned.
Angel: So I'm just supposed to forget about my own dreams and aspirations so Adam can have his moment in the sun?
Kelly Fox: If thats how you want to think of it, then yes. I'm asking you to make sure that Adam Knite wins the Coliseum. I don't care if you have to lay down, I don't care if you have to end your own career, all I care about is Adam Knite getting what he deserves, a World title shot.
( Angel stands up and turns his back on Kelly, perhaps angry, perhaps contemplating, but it doesn't take long for him to respond. )
Angel: I have done all I can for the Revolution, I have served you and Adam to the best of my ability... and my reward is you asking me to basically lay down for Adam? I just can't do that Kelly, it's not what the Revolution was supposed to be about. We were supposed to be about honor, respect, pride, we were supposed to represent wrestling at it's very best, but this, this is just despicable, it's disgusting, and I cannot and will not be a partner to this. If you wanted a puppet then you should have found somebody else.
( Now Kelly stands up, getting pretty close to Angel, placing her right hand on his left cheek. )
Kelly Fox: Respect? Honor? Coming from the man that cheated to finally beat Spike Kane? Coming from the man that watched as his once close friend Trent Helms was nearly killed? Coming from the man that went out of his way to embarrass Davey Ortega and Jack Manson? Angel, your not about respect, your about you, thats why you joined us, to stand out against Spike. Don't deny it. But you know what Angel? I appreciate your stand on my proposal, I do... but... "No" just isn't an option.
( Not sure what to say, Angel only tilts his head. )
Kelly Fox: You've got two options Sunday, make sure Adam wins... Or wrestle your last pay per view as a member of the nCw roster. Think it over.
( Not even allowing Angel to say another word, she backs him up to the door and opens it. Adam Knite is standing behind Angel and pats him hard on the back as he ushers him the rest of the way out the door. The door is closed, and once again, Angel is left with nothing but his thoughts. )
Two options.. thats all I have...
Betray the very foundations of the Revolution and my own moral compass to ensure Adam Knite gets a free ride to the World title...
or...
Give up everything I've been fighting for and sacrifice my career in nCw.
Those are my options, my only two options.
So what do I do? What would you do?
I've done some bad things in my time here, things I can live with, things I don't regret, because in my eyes, they needed to be done... But I don't know that I could live with this... I don't know that I could just give up this chance at the World Title...
I always demand the best from my opponents, but now my opponents are my friends... and their demanding that I don't try my hardest, their demanding that I don't give it my all, their asking me to fail...
My friends.... want me to fail....
( Without even realizing it, Angel is standing outside of the XL Center, his bag and title in hand and on shoulder. Though Connecticut is finally beginning to warm up, it's still pretty cold. Angel takes one last long sip from his coffee and throws it in a trash can. He begins to head to wards the parking garage, living so close to the arena he decided to drive his personal car in and park in the public parking garage across the way. However Angel is stopped by a small group of fans. Two younger teenage boys and a teenage girl, probably one of the boy's girlfriend. )
Randy: Wow, Angel, I knew you lived near by man, but this is so cool seeing you out here like this.
Angel: Yeah?
Randy: Hell yeah.
Mark: Awesome match tonight man, I friggin loved it. Looked like Joe and Scotty **** themselves out there.
Angel: *laughs* Yeah, but they put up a good fight.
Mark: No doubt.
Randy: So whats going on with you man, you splitting from that asshole Adam?
Mark: Oh man, tell me you are, I'm so sick of that jack ass.
Sarah: I bet them fifty bucks you turn back into the old Angel and beat the **** out of Adam Sunday, am I right?
( Angel just stares at the three kids for a couple of seconds, contemplating his answer. )
Angel: Yeah... maybe...
Mark: Maybe? What kind of a cop out answer is that? Don't tell me your gonna just sit back and play Mr. Nice Guy in the biggest match of the year?
Randy: Dude, quit being Adam's bitch already, whoop his ass.
Sarah: Yeah seriously.
Angel: I wish it were that easy guys, I do.
Randy: You know what man, you could be World Champ right now, you know that?
Mark: Adam only wanted you on his side because he knew you were a threat.
Randy **** yeah. He's scared of you man.
Sarah: Look at what you did to Bates. No body can beat him, cept you.
Randy: Yeah, and you totally ****ed up Everyman.
Mark: Don't forget about Manson and Ortega, or Dirty Deal. Dude, your like the Don Mega. Ain't no body wanna face you.
Randy: Especially not that punk Adam.
Angel: You guys really think that? You really think nCw is afraid of me?
Sarah: Yeah, its like, pretty obvious.
( A black 98 Chevy Blazer pulls up next to the four of them and honks its horn. )
Mark: Thats my mom, hey man, nice meeting you.
Randy: Good luck.
Sarah: Bye.
( Angel waves as the three kids pile into the SUV. The brake lights get further and further away while Angel stands in the cold and thinks about this brief encounter with a couple of his fans. )
Fans... After everything I've done I still have fans. There are still people who believe deep down in their hearts that I'm going to do the right thing Sunday.
Funny, they think the right thing is me serving myself and making damn sure I win this match...
Could we have had it all wrong?
Were we saving nCw or were we just getting rid of all the competition?
Was our message truly one of peace or was it something darker... something more sinister...
What did we accomplish besides pain and suffering? Who did we help besides ourselves? Who besides us has gained anything from all this fighting?
Spike Kane is gone... Trent Helms is gone... Davey Ortega is gone... The will to fight back is almost gone...
The Resistance is trying so hard to save themselves... are they wrong? Is it really wrong to want to be a champion... to want to know for that brief period in time that you are the best at what you do... is it wrong to want to take what you have and show it off to the world?
Or are we wrong for force feeding our beliefs... Adam's beliefs... I don't even know anymore...
There are two roads in front of me... One of them leads to everything I ever thought I wanted and the other one leads down a dark path I'm not sure I want to walk anymore...
Give up my dreams to "save" nCw... Or give up my career to "save" myself...
I sold my soul to the devil to save nCw...
And all I got in return was this stupid t-shirt...
( We focus in on Angel's "AOTR" shirt as the scene fades to black. )
Done? Good. Thing is, Joe, you gave me what I asked for, your very best, and this time it just wasn't enough. Don't worry, be happy, I let you walk away from that match.
Now the next time you go throwing around bull**** about me and my partner, remember the courtesy I did you and your future children by allowing you to continue breathing.
( Hartford, CT, the XL Center, 11:23 PM. Collision has wrapped up, the clock now ticks down to Sovereign, titles are on the line, lives will be changed, contenders will be named, all of those things weigh heavy on the mind of our dark hero, Angel. Showered and changed, we find Angel walking down one of the many hall ways in the XL Center, his tag team title draped over his leather clad shoulder, his duffel bag in his right hand and a coffee in his left. )
Coliseum match... I remember the first one, Dave Holland won, he came so close to defeating Lance Ryan that he actually managed to make a name for himself by losing...
No one really cares about the other five participants, they were just there, along for the ride, the story was all about Dave Holland, and his chance at the top.
So who's the story about this year? Who's everyone focusing on?
Adam Knite... The leader of the Revolution, the one major threat to the safety and future prosperity of this company, if your anyone not in a Revolution t-shirt.
( Angel starts to turn to his left, revealing his "AOTR" shirt beneath his leather coat. A few quick steps later and Angel stands outside of a door marked "Kelly Fox." He hesitates before placing his bag on the ground. )
All I keep hearing about is Adam Knite, and his Revolution, and how we work for him for his goals and his dreams and how he has twisted and corrupted us into something we're not...
All I keep hearing about is how I'm wrong for wanting to save nCw... How I'm the bad guy... All I see are former friends, fans, and family pointing their fingers and booing me for supporting Adam...
I can see the dream, it feels so close to being a reality, why does no one believe? Why will no one trust us and have faith in our vision? Why must I be painted as the bad guy?
Why does Shelly look at me like she doesn't trust me any more?
( Angel doesn't get a chance to open the door because Kelly Fox opened it for him. She gestures him into the office, where her desk is all set up with a computer and a small pile of paper work. Angel takes a seat on the near by couch, Kelly sits next to him, looking at him for a moment before she begins. )
Kelly Fox: Congratulations Angel, you have no idea how happy you made me when you pinned that loser tonight.
Angel: Yeah well... *blushes* just doing my job.
( Kelly lets out a forced laugh. )
Kelly Fox: I didn't ask you here to build your ego Angel, I asked you here to discuss Sovereign.
( Angel tries to muster up a look of surprise. )
Angel: I think I know where your going with this Kell.
Kelly Fox: Do you now?
Angel: You wanna make sure my heart is in this battle, because this could very well be the last stand of the Resistance. I got it, the Revolution has to win no matter the cost. I'm not exactly fans of our opponents, so I have no problem ending a few careers and shattering a few dreams.
( Kelly shakes her head and chuckles. She raises her right hand and strokes the side of Angel's face, he doesn't appear to like it very much. )
Kelly Fox: Oh, you are too cute sometimes. But you couldn't be more wrong Angel.
Angel: *Surprised* Really?
Kelly Fox: Sovereign may just be the end of this war, you know, the one we won two or three times now... But the Coliseum, thats the important part. You see the Revolution was Adam and Lance's dream. Adam has kept it alive, he's kept it breathing, he's poured his whole being into this Revolution.
( Angel cocks an eyebrow, internally questioning Ms. Fox but not interrupting her. )
Kelly Fox: Adam is the hero of this war Angel, his Revolution will have saved this promotion, a promotion that would have died without him and his dream. What better way to honor your hero than to give him the grandest prize in the history of wrestling?
( Now Angel starts to laugh and Kelly doesn't look at all amused.
Angel: Are you asking me to make sure Adam walks out of Sovereign the winner?
Kelly Fox: I'm asking you to honor the hero of nCw with what he has more than earned.
Angel: So I'm just supposed to forget about my own dreams and aspirations so Adam can have his moment in the sun?
Kelly Fox: If thats how you want to think of it, then yes. I'm asking you to make sure that Adam Knite wins the Coliseum. I don't care if you have to lay down, I don't care if you have to end your own career, all I care about is Adam Knite getting what he deserves, a World title shot.
( Angel stands up and turns his back on Kelly, perhaps angry, perhaps contemplating, but it doesn't take long for him to respond. )
Angel: I have done all I can for the Revolution, I have served you and Adam to the best of my ability... and my reward is you asking me to basically lay down for Adam? I just can't do that Kelly, it's not what the Revolution was supposed to be about. We were supposed to be about honor, respect, pride, we were supposed to represent wrestling at it's very best, but this, this is just despicable, it's disgusting, and I cannot and will not be a partner to this. If you wanted a puppet then you should have found somebody else.
( Now Kelly stands up, getting pretty close to Angel, placing her right hand on his left cheek. )
Kelly Fox: Respect? Honor? Coming from the man that cheated to finally beat Spike Kane? Coming from the man that watched as his once close friend Trent Helms was nearly killed? Coming from the man that went out of his way to embarrass Davey Ortega and Jack Manson? Angel, your not about respect, your about you, thats why you joined us, to stand out against Spike. Don't deny it. But you know what Angel? I appreciate your stand on my proposal, I do... but... "No" just isn't an option.
( Not sure what to say, Angel only tilts his head. )
Kelly Fox: You've got two options Sunday, make sure Adam wins... Or wrestle your last pay per view as a member of the nCw roster. Think it over.
( Not even allowing Angel to say another word, she backs him up to the door and opens it. Adam Knite is standing behind Angel and pats him hard on the back as he ushers him the rest of the way out the door. The door is closed, and once again, Angel is left with nothing but his thoughts. )
Two options.. thats all I have...
Betray the very foundations of the Revolution and my own moral compass to ensure Adam Knite gets a free ride to the World title...
or...
Give up everything I've been fighting for and sacrifice my career in nCw.
Those are my options, my only two options.
So what do I do? What would you do?
I've done some bad things in my time here, things I can live with, things I don't regret, because in my eyes, they needed to be done... But I don't know that I could live with this... I don't know that I could just give up this chance at the World Title...
I always demand the best from my opponents, but now my opponents are my friends... and their demanding that I don't try my hardest, their demanding that I don't give it my all, their asking me to fail...
My friends.... want me to fail....
( Without even realizing it, Angel is standing outside of the XL Center, his bag and title in hand and on shoulder. Though Connecticut is finally beginning to warm up, it's still pretty cold. Angel takes one last long sip from his coffee and throws it in a trash can. He begins to head to wards the parking garage, living so close to the arena he decided to drive his personal car in and park in the public parking garage across the way. However Angel is stopped by a small group of fans. Two younger teenage boys and a teenage girl, probably one of the boy's girlfriend. )
Randy: Wow, Angel, I knew you lived near by man, but this is so cool seeing you out here like this.
Angel: Yeah?
Randy: Hell yeah.
Mark: Awesome match tonight man, I friggin loved it. Looked like Joe and Scotty **** themselves out there.
Angel: *laughs* Yeah, but they put up a good fight.
Mark: No doubt.
Randy: So whats going on with you man, you splitting from that asshole Adam?
Mark: Oh man, tell me you are, I'm so sick of that jack ass.
Sarah: I bet them fifty bucks you turn back into the old Angel and beat the **** out of Adam Sunday, am I right?
( Angel just stares at the three kids for a couple of seconds, contemplating his answer. )
Angel: Yeah... maybe...
Mark: Maybe? What kind of a cop out answer is that? Don't tell me your gonna just sit back and play Mr. Nice Guy in the biggest match of the year?
Randy: Dude, quit being Adam's bitch already, whoop his ass.
Sarah: Yeah seriously.
Angel: I wish it were that easy guys, I do.
Randy: You know what man, you could be World Champ right now, you know that?
Mark: Adam only wanted you on his side because he knew you were a threat.
Randy **** yeah. He's scared of you man.
Sarah: Look at what you did to Bates. No body can beat him, cept you.
Randy: Yeah, and you totally ****ed up Everyman.
Mark: Don't forget about Manson and Ortega, or Dirty Deal. Dude, your like the Don Mega. Ain't no body wanna face you.
Randy: Especially not that punk Adam.
Angel: You guys really think that? You really think nCw is afraid of me?
Sarah: Yeah, its like, pretty obvious.
( A black 98 Chevy Blazer pulls up next to the four of them and honks its horn. )
Mark: Thats my mom, hey man, nice meeting you.
Randy: Good luck.
Sarah: Bye.
( Angel waves as the three kids pile into the SUV. The brake lights get further and further away while Angel stands in the cold and thinks about this brief encounter with a couple of his fans. )
Fans... After everything I've done I still have fans. There are still people who believe deep down in their hearts that I'm going to do the right thing Sunday.
Funny, they think the right thing is me serving myself and making damn sure I win this match...
Could we have had it all wrong?
Were we saving nCw or were we just getting rid of all the competition?
Was our message truly one of peace or was it something darker... something more sinister...
What did we accomplish besides pain and suffering? Who did we help besides ourselves? Who besides us has gained anything from all this fighting?
Spike Kane is gone... Trent Helms is gone... Davey Ortega is gone... The will to fight back is almost gone...
The Resistance is trying so hard to save themselves... are they wrong? Is it really wrong to want to be a champion... to want to know for that brief period in time that you are the best at what you do... is it wrong to want to take what you have and show it off to the world?
Or are we wrong for force feeding our beliefs... Adam's beliefs... I don't even know anymore...
There are two roads in front of me... One of them leads to everything I ever thought I wanted and the other one leads down a dark path I'm not sure I want to walk anymore...
Give up my dreams to "save" nCw... Or give up my career to "save" myself...
I sold my soul to the devil to save nCw...
And all I got in return was this stupid t-shirt...
( We focus in on Angel's "AOTR" shirt as the scene fades to black. )